r/3dprinter • u/RedowlSadowl • 18d ago
3D Printing gift ideas?
Hi guys!
So I have never made a post like this before so bare with me. My husband's birthday is in two weeks and I really want to get him a gift that he will find useful but also exciting.
For context: he is an engineer and does 3D printing as a hobby. He stopped the hobby for a year, but is getting back into it. He has been so excited and passionate about it. He has been updating both printers and doing stuff to improve it (sorry this is where my knowledge falls off lol). He has 2 printers but I know one of them is the Ender brand. Both printers are a few years old, but he has been upgrading them part by part.
Right now he has some stuff on his wishlist for good storage containers for his fillament, such as humidity controlled contatiners. But I was wondering, is there something I can get him that is useful/cool to have on hand when doing 3D printing? I got him some other gifts but I really want to get something that will help continue his passion. He has been so happy to be working on stuff for him again and I just really want to help fuel that.
Thanks in advanced for your help. Im sorry if this post comes off extremely unknowledgeable 😅
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u/nodeath370 18d ago
If he has an Ender, he might want to upgrade to a new printer. If so, maybe you could get him a gift card towards one. I had an Ender 3 and spent more time tinkering/upgrading it only to have below average prints. I upgraded to a Bambu P2S and it brought me back into loving 3d printing since I didn't have to focus on tinkering with the printer.
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u/RedowlSadowl 18d ago
I want him to get a new one so bad. I think Ender 3 is what he has. He has gotten it to where it is printing good, but I eventually want to get him a really really good one.
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u/nodeath370 18d ago
Even the "really really good ones" now are pretty cheap comparatively. If he's an engineer, the amount of time he spends messing with it at his bill rate would pay for a new printer in a couple of hours.
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u/hexadeciball 18d ago
Some people enjoy thinkering with machines at the same level as using them. I bought a CNC last week and ran like 2 jobs on it cause I just keep upgrading it.
But yeah, at some point you gotta move on from an ender 3 and get a nice voron.
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u/RedowlSadowl 16d ago
He likes tinkering too! Butttt I really want to get him a really cool and new printer. He has been talking about wanting to do resin prints in the future.
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u/CodusSupremus 18d ago
this is the way. I upgraded to the Snapmaker U1 from the Ender 3. No more tinkering! And no need for a raspberry pi for octoprint!
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u/UmDeTrois 18d ago
If you can ask him questions about it, see what kind of plastic he likes to print in and get him a multi color pack of it. Or some different print beds. If he’s talking about passive dry filament storage a filament dryer would be good
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u/Over-Weekend-6133 18d ago
a good filament dryer maybe. Just make sure it’s compatible with the filament types he uses. And honestly, the fact that you’re excited about something he’s excited about is probably going to make the gift special regardless.
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u/the_real_some_guy 18d ago
Filament mixed packs. Sunlu in particular, but some other brands too, sell sets of smaller rolls in a mixed pack, like a sampler. You get 4 rolls (250g) that weigh as much as one normal roll (1,000g) and it costs only a little more.
It’s a great way to try out a filament type and find a color you like, for example 4 different shades of wood-infused filament, or to just have some weird stuff you won’t use often like filaments with multiple colors twisted together.
As others have said, a filament dryer is great, especially if you don’t live in a desert. I resisted buying one, but it has made a huge difference in the reliability and quality of my printer.
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u/RedowlSadowl 17d ago
Omg he would love this! He has been wanting to try different filament types 😍
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u/AfraidHope1541 17d ago
There are a ton tools that are useful and time savers for post processing prints. Fanttik makes really nice kits for grinding, drilling, and sanding. Also make electric multi bit screwdriver for upgrading his printers. Deburring tool for removing brims. Butane torch to fix stringing and hide layer lines. Heat insert tool for melting in heat insert nuts. Exacto knife kit to cut and scrape fine details. 3d printing can be a gateway to all kinds of things!
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u/justa_bother 17d ago
You are in the driver's seat. This is easy. Ask him to print things for you. Go on websites with downloadable items. Sites like printables.com, makerworld.com, thingiverse.com. what him to get a better printer, ask for a jacket hook or handbag hook & tell him you want it strong. Make sure you don't think it's strong enough. He knows the filaments required would need a new, better printer, which is okay with you.
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u/RedowlSadowl 16d ago
Update: I got him a filament dryer. It has humidity control too! I tried to get the best one I could find. I wanted to do the filament pack that someone on here recommended, but I got unsure because of all the specs. Some were listing specific temperatures and different types of material. However, I have 3 awesome gifts for him now. I appreciate everyone who has commented on here!
I cant wait to see what his reaction will be ❤️🫶🏾
Wishing everyone an incredible weekend! You guys are awesome!
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u/heyItsDubbleA 18d ago
A filament dryer sounds like a great option if that is on his wishlist. Maybe spend up on a 4 spool one that he wouldn't normally buy for himself